I only just started using Twitter in the last few months, so maybe it surprises me more than other people how frequently Jesus or variations of Jesus/Christianity are listed among the many other subjects trending on Twitter.
This morning, for example, under trends of #penguinawarenessday, Sarah Palin, and Jamie Foxx, Lord Jesus and Christianity were listed.
Though I have wondered how this happens when our nation seems less and less interested in Jesus, to me, the more important question isn’t whether or not Jesus is really trending in the US or on Twitter.
The important question is: Is Jesus really trending in the lives of those who claim to follow him–including in my own life? And if so, what else is trending alongside him?
If you were to see a list of the trends in my mind right now, tied to how many thoughts I have about each subject… well, I’m embarrassed to think of what would come up.
I do think Jesus would make the list, but my mind would be as all-over-the-place as the Twitter trends, which this morning ranged from Penguin Awareness Day to Christianity.
And some of the trends in my mind would not be so harmless.
So, if Jesus is really trending in someone’s life, what things really ought to be on list of trends with his name?
Trending is a newer term, but the Bible does talk about Jesus ruling in our hearts, and I think that’s a pretty similar idea.
Colossians 3:15-17 says, “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (ESV).
These three verses provide quite a list of appropriate trends for believer:
Peace
Unity
Gratitude
Spiritual Growth
Wisdom
Praise
Good works
Even more gratitude
And this is just from three verses in a chapter full of other insights into what the Christian life should look like.
Join me in taking a look at the trends in your heart. What’s on the list? What should or should not be?
Let’s take those trends back to Jesus, give them to him, and ask him to lead our hearts toward the trends that really matter and glorify him.
Keep spreading the good word! God bless
Thanks, Curt! Appreciate you stopping by 🙂
I love this. So many times I have been confused at what people share on social media and when it comes to having Jesus "trending" in their lives they would not even think about sharing that. I am not saying the only way to have Jesus is to share him on social media however I do wish HE would get more attention in peoples lives.
Yes! If Jesus is getting attention in our lives, it will affect what we post (or don't post) on social media–not that we have to be posting about him, like you said, but if he's "trending" in our lives, it'll affect everything. 🙂